AMTV has not even started on Optus B3 and yet its founder Salvatore "Sam" Scevola is in Court.<br /> [URL=http://www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,9353,15583978-28778,00.html]<br />Son blames gangster dad for his sins<br />By court writer WARREN OWENS<br />June 12, 2005<br />A SYDNEY ethnic TV station boss has blamed his domineering father's violent, gangster-like behaviour for him not paying workers' compensation fees at his previous business.<br /><br />In claims filed with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, Australian Multicultural TV Network (AMTV) chief Salvatore "Sam" Scevola alleged that his violent father slept with a loaded gun beside him. He claimed that when relatives or friends went missing, he believed they had been murdered and that when his father talked of "compari" (godfather) who had been shot dead, he believed that the older man was involved.<br /><br />Three years ago Mr Scevola was fined $5000 for not paying workers' compensation premiums for his family car wash business at Five Dock.<br /><br />Then, acting without legal advice, he blamed his youth and inexperience. He now claims his late father directed that workers' compensation premiums not be paid for the business.<br /><br />Last week, the NSW Industrial Commission agreed to hear his appeal against the fine and conviction, based on Mr Scevola's "quite unusual circumstances".<br /><br />The Commission noted Mr Scevola "had no idea of the depth of his father's controlling behaviour on his own conduct" in running the family business.<br /><br />Only after he sought legal advice and was advised to consult a psychologist was the full impact of his father's behaviour and abuse of family revealed.<br /><br />Revelations cited by the Commission included claims that his late father "appeared to have unsavoury connections, was possibly associated with the death of people in his community".<br /><br />Scevola now felt a sense of despair and sorrow over the impact on his family, as one brother had become a drug addict as a result of his brutal upbringing, the Commission noted.<br /><br />Scevola felt his own ill-health sprang from the "stress of working in a family business knowing that things were not being performed properly or ethically".<br /><br />WorkCover opposed his appeal and reserved the right to contest his new evidence later this year. <br /><br /><br />The Sunday Telegraph